The programs of the School of Art and Design provide students with the aesthetic and critical perspectives vital for professional careers in art and design. Central to the UIC approach are studio courses which engage students in the development of significant creative works as well as independent research utilizing the interdisciplinary resources of one of the world's great cities and a major research university as a base for learning.
The first year program introduces students to a wide range of possibilities for creative expression and problem-solving. After completion of the first year program, students will participate in an all-School portfolio review to gain acceptance into one of seven areas of concentration. The majors in the School of Art and Design are: Electronic Visualization, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Moving Image, Photography, Studio Arts, and Art Education. By the senior year, students in the programs based in Art and Design Hall: Moving Image, Photography and Studio Arts are working together in an advanced interdisciplinary program. Likewise, students in the programs based in the Art and Architecture building: Electronic Visualization, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design are encouraged to collaborate in interdisciplinary projects and to share an advanced Design Colloquium. Areas of collaborative study include the UIC Interdisciplinary Product Development program, which teams design students with students in the College of Business and the College of Engineering. Senior level professional practice courses offer additional opportunities to engage in projects with industry and government.Photography is a medium for recording, communication, and personal expression. Students are expected to explore the social, cultural, and aesthetic possibilities of the medium within an interdisciplinary art program. Study leads to professional careers in a variety of disciplines that constitute contemporary photographic practice including art, documentation, and education. The program includes production courses that develop needed skills in both analog and digital photographic processes, interdisciplinary seminars that explore the cultural, theoretical and aesthetic potential of the medium, and advanced critique courses leading to a BFA thesis exhibition.
| Photography: 4-Year Plan |
| (Malagrino, Ischar, Minnix, Geissler) |
| Year 1 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 4 | AD 102 Drawing I (F/S) | 4 | AD 110 Graphic Design I (F/S) |
| 4 | AD 102 Drawing I (F/S) | 4 | AD 140 Sculpture I (F/S) |
| 4 | AD 160 Photo I (F/S) | 4 | AD 170 Time-Based (F/S) |
| 3 | ENG 160 | 3 | ENG 161 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| All majors to pass April portfolio review | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 4 | AH 110 Art History I (F/Sum) | 3 | AH 111 Art History II (S/Sum) |
| 3 | General Elective | 4 | AD elective |
| 3 | General Elective | 3 | General Elective |
| 4 | AD 290 Interdisciplinary Seminar I (F/S) | 4 | AD 209 Color Theory (F/S) |
| 4 | AD 267 Methods and Techniques of Digital Photography (F/S) | 4 | AD 268 Methods and Techniques of Analog Photography (F/S) |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 4-5 | Analyzing the Natural World | 3 | Understanding the Past |
| 4 | AD 391 Interdisciplinary Seminar II (F/S) | 4 | AH 160 Contemporary Art (F/S) |
| 4 | AD 262 View Camera/Studio Lighting (F) | 4 | AD 261 Color Photography (S) |
| 4 | AD 360 Adv. Proj. in Digital Media (F/S) | 4 | AD 362 Documentary Media (F/S) |
| 3 | General Elective | ||
| 16-17 | 18 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Spring | ||
| 3 | Understanding U.S. Society | 3 | Exploring World Cultures |
| 3 | AH 230 History of Photography I (F) | 3 | AH 231 History of Photography II (S) |
| 6 | AD 462 Advanced Art/Studio Critique (F)** | 6 | AD 463 Art/Studio Thesis (S) |
| 4 | AD elective | 4 | AD elective |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| 24 | First Year Hours | ||
| 44 | General Education Hours | ||
| 64 | Major Concentration Hours | ||
| 130 | Total Hours |